Not sure if anyone's mentioned this yet,but I feel(as would most newbs) that the hardest part BYFAR of flying RC planes is something that a sim cant even touch on..........and this is what makes it almost impossible to learn to fly RC planes on your own. And that is NERVES. You can fly sims forever(just like Idid),but you'll most likely never be able to fly a real plane on your own simply because not only does your mind do cartwheels for you first about 30 flights making you not be able to concentrate,your fingers dont work at all and are shaking so bad you cant use the sticks right. But this is good because this is the thrill of it. Problem is it takes many flight with an instructor to get past this part. And no sim can do that for you. Sims only teach you coordination which you can only use once you get your nerves somewhat controlable....and even then its hard. I'm still that way a couple years and a bunch of planes later. And still use our club instructor to maiden some of my planes and make sure they fly right before I take over. This is another nice part of an instuctor. You'll have no clue what to do if you planes isnt perfect on its maiden......which happens about 1/2 the time. Our instructor saved a plane or 2 of mine already this season! Anyway.....fly that sim and get an instructor! Good luck!!!